According to Lithuanian media reports, an e-cigarette retailer based in Kaunas is allegedly involved in evading payment of over 800,000 euros in value-added tax (VAT).
Three employees of this company are suspected of being involved in high-value fraud and the illegal use of taxable goods, with a value exceeding 9 million riyals.
The official statement indicates that this investigation is being led by the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor's Office, with the support of officials from the Kaunas Regional Tax Crime Investigation Department (FNTT).
The investigation was initiated due to suspicions that the company was engaging in remote sales of e-cigarettes and the necessary e-liquids on its website, despite such activities being explicitly prohibited by Lithuanian law.
According to available information, the company's previous website was blocked by the court due to illegal sales of e-cigarettes and e-liquid. However, the company subsequently created another website and continued to illegally sell its products.
These three implicated employees have been accused of falsely claiming that the company had sold these products (e-cigarettes and e-liquids) to companies registered within the European Union, in order to circumvent the ban on selling taxable goods online.
According to these potential fraudulent transactions, it is alleged that individuals involved illegally obtained over 800,000 euros in value-added tax refunds. As a result of these potential fraudulent transactions, there may have been a misapplication of the 0% value-added tax rate, resulting in 800,000 euros in unpaid value-added tax that should have been included in the national budget.
In order to gather as much investigation-relevant data as possible, officials from the FNTT conducted searches of the residences, vehicles, and vessels of the suspected individuals. During one such search of an employee's residence, an extensive sum of over 900,000 euros in cash was discovered.
The ongoing pre-trial investigation is being led by Vingaudas Rinkevičius, the Chief Prosecutor of the Third Criminal Prosecution Department of the Prosecutor's Office in the Kaunas District.
According to the criminal law, the most severe punishment, which can lead to a maximum of eight years of imprisonment, is prescribed for illegally obtaining high-value external assets or property rights, as well as for the illegal use of taxable goods valued at over 9 million Litas.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
